Bird Counts
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Update: Some photos added.
For the Leadbetter Point Christmas Bird Count (CBC), on December 18, 2010, we noted 100 species, plus three species for Count Week. Number of individuals: 36,784. Temps: low 34F, high 44F. Winds: generally brisk (5 to 10 mph) and often to at least 20 mph. Cloud cover 90% to 100%, rain about 60% of the day; some periods without rain, but at times 
heavy gusts and rainfall, and a few blasts of sleet and hail; 0.9 inches total precipitation. Wind and rain hampered views of water birds, and significantly decreased our ability to detect passerines. At least it wasn't raining all the time!
Our number of participants, 40 (36 field observers, divided among 5 sectors; plus 4 at feeders), was the highest
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For the Leadbetter Point Christmas Bird Count (CBC), on December 19, 2009, we noted 91 species, including one species new and another species with the highest number during our 35+ years of doing the Count.
Number of individuals: 29,508. Temps: low 38F, high 54F. Winds: 0 to 10 mph. Cloud cover 90% to 100%, light rain or mist at nearly all times, 95% of day, 0.5 inches total. Low fog hampered views of water birds, and shortened visibility significantly. At least the wind wasn't blowing! Many very low counts or groups of species missing which are noted nearly every year: scoters, loons, grebes, cormorants, finches.
Our number of participants, 37, was the highest ever for our count. Our CBC circle
Read more: 2009 Christmas Bird Count Results from Leadbetter Point
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On December 29, 2009, 21 volunteers participated in the twelfth annual Wahkiakum Christmas Bird Count.
Though the temperature rose into the low 40's from the morning's freezing temperatures, a cold east wind blowing over 20 mph in many parts of the circle made it hard to find birds. Some afternoon rain and snow didn't help either.
The count of 104 species is three below our average. Two species were new to the Wahkiakum CBC. Eurasian Collared-Doves are now well- established on Puget Island, where 10 were found on count day. An Empidonax sp. flycatcher was found near the east end of East Birnie Slough Road, Puget Island. I attempted to relocate it, but did not succeed.
Other uncommon finds for our circle included an Eared Grebe,
Read more: 2009 Christmas Bird Count Results from Wahkiakum County
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Listen to an interview with the Christmas Bird Count and Feeder Watch coordinators on NPR's Science Friday from 2009 here and from 2008 here and continuing here with a discussion of the benefits of shade grown coffee. The 2009 interview in particular talks about the northward movement of birds as documented by the counts.
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On January 1, 2009 sandwiched between snow storms the 25th 3CBC was held as part of Audubon's 109th Christmas Bird Count. 13 field observers and 7 feeder watchers joined the party and spent the mostly rainy day searching for some 9,895 party loving birds.
The temperature ranged from 38° to 48° with winds out of the southwest at 0-5 mph.